Caroline Hobbs '26, Adwoa Sankah '26 < Back Girls will be wives Caroline Hobbs '26, Adwoa Sankah '26 Apr 4, 2025 Disclaimer: Satire edition With the Hale Field House's impending transformation into an interim dining hall for the 2025-2026 school year, the number of participants in winter indoor track has been significantly limited. In an effort to ensure that everyone has a winter activity, the PGA committee has introduced many exciting alternatives, the most notable being the Tradwife Internship. The mission statement is as follows: “Our goal is to prepare female students on our campus for the looming political state of America by making them proper homemakers and mothers,” said the group's faculty leader, Dave Holzwarth, who promises that this program will be a life-changing experience. The four main focuses of this program will be cooking, cleaning, motherhood, and, most importantly, serving men. The assistant director and creator of the program, Ben Doyka, explained, “When creating our curriculum, I took influence mostly from The Handmaid’s Tale , Ballerina Farm , and The Secret Life of Mormon Housewives .” The leaders were also happy to announce that they will be partnering with the Conococheague Institute to study the history and reasoning behind why young women are tasked with these important roles. Participants will wear the Institute’s historical attire to ensure the most realistic experience possible. The faculty hopes to bring in guest speakers such as Nara Smith and her husband, Lucky Blue Smith, as well as world-famous podcaster Andrew Tate. While many female track stars are hesitant, most are eagerly embracing this opportunity. Sophie Koroma ’26 mourns her inability to participate in this PGA, commenting, “If I weren’t going to a D1 swimming program, my second choice would be to drop out and become a tradwife. Actually, being a tradwife was my first option, but I guess it just didn't work out.” Fellow record-breaker Ella Blanco ’26 adds, “I mean, I already broke a school record, now it’s time to be where I belong…in the kitchen.” She sounded particularly excited about the cooking segment of her studies. Madeline Chu ’27 sums up the reasoning behind this new activity well, saying, “Everyone can run, but not everyone can bake a nasty pie while rocking a baby to sleep. And I want to be the latter.” While initially created as an interim PGA for female runners, young women from other PGAs across campus are also planning to join the program. “Even though I came to Mercersburg as a basketball recruit, I will be leaving the team to participate in this opportunity. I think it will be more beneficial in the long run,” said Maddison Greenway ’28. She explains that her current cooking skills are limited to making ramen, and she is excited to finally "unleash her full potential." Antonina Sech ’26, originally a swim recruit, adds, “I look forward to this endeavor and hope we cover how to secure a sugar daddy.” Even GSSU leaders and active lesbians, Alice Morgan ’26 and Annie Mohr ’26, are interested in the program. Mohr notes, “I really think this would get us in touch with our feminine sides. We have drifted too far from who we really are.” PGA leaders anticipated pushback from students on this "controversial topic" yet they could not have predicted the response they received. Male-identifying students began speaking up not in protest but in hope. Joe Segal ’26 cried, “My truest dream is to be a trophy husband. I hope the school seriously considers introducing a program for us kind and curious men.” Simon Brennan ’26 commented, “I think this is an amazing opportunity for my girlfriend. She is already pretty good at making my sandwiches, but it’s time for her to focus up and learn how to clean.” Lastly, from his own unique perspective on women, Wyatt Park ’25 chimed in, “Well, maybe it will be more entertaining than watching women’s sports.” To maintain competitiveness and encourage hard work, participants will be invited to the Varsity Banquet at the end of each term. At the banquet, the MVP will be awarded the "Trophy Wife Trophy," which is a wife-shaped award. The most-improved future wife will receive the "Girlfriend Material Award." The Tradwife PGA isn’t just meant to create a competitive environment among students like traditional sports; it is designed to pit women against each other, breaking them down until they believe they are worthless—in keeping with the natural order of the species. Mercersburg has strayed too far from its roots as an all-boys school, and this program, alongside preparing female students for the real world, reinstates the long-lost tradition of women serving men. Previous Next

Sophie Han ’27 < Back Signed, sealed, delivered Sophie Han ’27 Oct 17, 2025 The Letter Writing Club, led by Asami Puff ’26, works to connect students with seniors citizens around the world through handwritten letters, creating a space where Mercersburg students can turn small acts of kindness into hundreds of messages filled with care. Faculty adviser librarian Julie Bell said the club began when a student approached her with the idea of bringing letter writing to campus. “It’s through a program called Love for Our Elders,” Bell said. “Every month they post new elders with a short description, and we would read each elder’s story before writing.” She added, “It’s really about sharing a bit of yourself with someone who might not have many people reaching out.” Club president Asami Puff ’26 said, “Taking over the club this year has been rewarding and eye-opening. It’s amazing to see how something as simple as a handwritten letter can make someone’s day. Seeing everyone come together with genuine care for the elderly has been incredibly fulfilling.” Puff hopes members “walk away with a deeper appreciation for human connection, especially the kind that doesn’t rely on technology.” Beyond leading meetings, Puff strives to maintain the spirit of connection that defines the club. “When you slow down to write, you think about what you want to say and how it might make someone else feel,” Puff said. “That thoughtfulness is what makes the process meaningful. It ’s not just about sending a letter but about taking time to care.” Vice president Christine Jiang ’26 described the club as “a very nice environment that is quiet, where everyone is working toward the same goal. Sometimes there are similar interests or commonalities [between the students and their intended recipients] – maybe they lived in a country or speak a language you know – and you connect over that.” Lily Hubbard ’26 said, “I always feel better after doing it. It’s kind of a distraction but also a good deed. You personalize it, such as if someone’s from the Pacific Northwest, where I live, then I always write to them and say, ‘I live there too.’” Piper Matthias ’26, who joined after a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event, added, “I wanted to keep doing it because it assured me that somebody was going to be happy on the other end. The most rewarding part is knowing that somebody reading this letter will feel cared about and loved.” Over time, the club’s letters have reached far beyond campus. “Jasmine’s grandmother received more than 500 letters after Jasmine nominated her,” Bell said. “Another elder asked his daughter to type letters to everyone who wrote to him, saying that if his wife were still alive, she would have happily handwritten them all.” Even as it grows, the club stays rooted in the simple act of handwriting. “Your brain works differently if you only use tech,” Bell said. “There’s a different way of thinking when you physically write.” Each meeting includes cards, stamps, stickers, and desserts—a reminder that connection can still exist off-screen. Looking ahead, Puff expressed her excitement for the future: “We hope to participate in MLK Service Day to honor Dr. King’s message of love and community. On that day, we plan to organize a larger letter-writing event.” “Anyone can join,” she said. “You don’t need experience or fancy writ- ing, but just sincerity.” Bell agreed, “We’d love for more people to see what this club is about. When you take the time to write to someone, you realize how powerful a small act can be.” Previous Previous Next Next

Audrey Hua '26 < Back Golfing girl power Audrey Hua '26 Apr 14, 2023 For years, Mercersburg Academy’s golf program has earned respect for the experience and competition it offers; nevertheless, it was missing a crucial link – a girls’ team. That was until spring of last year, when eight groundbreaking girls stepped up to form the first official girls’ golf team. This means that this spring marks one year of girls golf at Mercersburg. “We’ve been trying to form it since I got here,” Paul Sipes, co-director of athletics, said. “We started with a senior who really wanted to play competitive golf, then we got four more who could play on their own who were good.” Sipes continued, “It isn’t just about wanting to play; you have to be invested in getting better. You’ll see them hitting in the golf simulator during the winter, keeping their swing going, and they play in both the fall and the spring.” The girls on the team have playing experience ranging from two to five years. Doug Smith, head golf coach, said, “They’re young; we’re still developing, and we’re not quite where we want to be yet. But talent-wise, it looks great, and I couldn’t ask for more in terms of comradery. In terms of competitiveness, we’re a little ahead of where I thought we’d be right now. We have a really solid group of girls.” Smith added, “Right now, on average, our two best are Sihyeon Bae and Amanda Xi, but the other girls are just a notch behind. That’s our strength – we might not have the number one score in matches, but we have good depth throughout the team.” Looking forward at the season, Smith said, “The top three events for the girls right now are MAPL Championships, Swing for Cancer at Peddie, and State Championships in the spring. I like to schedule games with a few that we know we’re gonna be strong in, some that are really close, and some that are aspirational.” “What we’re looking at is adding competitive matches against schools in DC, and we could even host an invitational,” Sipes said. With such a small team, the dynamic seems to be essential to maintaining good play. “The heart of the girl’s team is their character, their personality. They’re super fun, super eager, and willing to work,” Smith said. “The vibe is always good,” Sihyeon Bae ‘24 remarked. Abby Yang ‘25 added, “We’re like besties, we’re like a squad.” Amanda Xi ‘25 said, “I think it was kind of the same last year. We were really close, and this year it’s a lot of the same people, so we kind of continued that friendship.” Kelsey Li ‘26 said her favorite thing about golf was simply, “Them.” Xi agreed, saying, “I like my team. I like practicing with the team, car rides with the team, and dubs with the team!” Smith ended on a positive note, “The team builds itself. Being known as a positive team, that we’re fun, we’re good at winning… Well, people want to be a part of that.” Previous Next

Adrienne Howard ‘26 < Back Bump, set, spike, repeat Adrienne Howard ‘26 Oct 4, 2024 Last Wednesday, the Mercersburg Academy volleyball team faced a tough match against local rival St. James School, resulting in a 0-3 loss. However, the team bounced back on Saturday during Family and Alumni Weekend with an impressive victory of 3-0 against MAPL foe The Hun School of Princeton. This Saturday, they will face Lawrenceville School. Identifying opportunities for improvement, Bella Levina ’25 stated, “The team dynamic can be intense at times, and we need more communication between the coaches and players.” Head coach Amy Lyman elaborated: “The biggest challenge is always to come together as a team. We have new freshmen on the varsity, and getting to know each other is a challenge.” Captain Alyssa Lee ’25 commented, “It’s definitely been a learning experience with a smaller team and younger players, but we’re getting better with each game. We didn’t get much of a preseason, which set us behind compared to other teams, but we’re learning a lot from each of our games.” Injuries have also been a significant setback this season. Lee noted, “We have a lot of shoulder injuries, but we’re working on creating lineups that allow players to heal while still playing in positions they can.” Allister Caretti ’26 applauded the team’s versatility, saying, “We have many players who can do a variety of things, so when others are injured, it gives other players opportunities to showcase their skills. However, we are always hoping for recovery and a healthy team.” Lyman stated, “We’ve had some tough losses, which has been hard. We’ve played some really skilled teams that are currently above our level, but the girls have worked really hard.” Lyman remains optimistic, however, noting, “I see progress in every match. You never want to peak too soon in a season, and it’s still really early.” Caretti added, “We have been playing some really tough teams recently, but we have been bouncing back in practices with a lot of energy.” Levina agreed, saying, “It’s good to remember that we are in this together, and we shouldn’t be too upset about our losses.” This year, Storm volleyball has expanded to include a junior varsity roster. While the program had only a varsity team last year, this has not always been the case. In previous years, there were both varsity and junior varsity teams. Lyman expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I much prefer having a JV team because it is crucial to teaching skills, especially our new players. I don’t ever want to go back to not having a JV team.” Maintaining a fresh talent pool has also proved beneficial for the program throughout the season. “We have swing players [now] who have been great at filling in for games.” explained Lena Wilke ’27. Looking ahead, Wilke shared her thoughts on the remainder of the season. “Since many of us are injured, our focus should be on teamwork, having fun, and playing well. We often get caught up in trying to win games, which can kill the vibe. We should each focus on playing our best individually so we can come together as a team.” Caretti remarked, “We are doing a lot of good things, just not all the time. So my goal for the team is to be more consistent.” Lyman stated, “My number one goal as a coach is for the girls to recognize their potential and reach it as a team.” She added, “Each year, I aim to make it one step further in PAISAAs [the independent schools states tournament]. This year, my goal is to make it to the third round.” Previous Next

Crystal Yuen '24 < Back Hitting the quad Crystal Yuen '24 Apr 21, 2023 Being the center of Mercersburg Academy’s campus, the quad has always been a gathering place and a relaxation space for the school community. Many have read a book in the green Adirondack chairs, laid in the grass soaking in the rays, and some have even counted blades of grass. With its relaxed and open atmosphere, it is not surprising that in recent years students have rediscovered another purpose for the quad. With the weather becoming warmer each week, after a long day of demanding classes then exhausting PGAs, most spring evenings students typically flock to the quad and play Spikeball, vibe out with music and socialize with their friends after dinner. Roby Pong ’23 said, “I look forward to the time I can spend with my friends and the fun I can have before I have to focus and study for the rest of the night.” Whether it be tossing a Frisbee, singing along to the music, or laughing with friends, the quad is a place of inclusivity, entertainment, and friendly rivalry. Catherine Kidd ’24 commented that in these post dinner moments she has “made so many deeper connections with people.” Kidd continued on to describe the quad as “a beautiful space for people to fool around, a space where students can loosen up after a stressful day, and a space for many to release their stress and anxiety through friendly competition.” The quad is a symbol of togetherness in Mercersburg’s ever-vibrant community. It is the geographical center of the campus, but recently is also a sort of center for Mercersburg’s students and their friendships. Previous Previous Next Next

Paris Zhang '27 < Back Treat people nice-Lee Paris Zhang '27 Sep 12, 2025 Mercersburg Academy is pleased to welcome Steven Lee as the Assistant Head of School for Community and Culture in Student Life. Associate Head of School Jennifer Craig explained the reasoning behind the addition of the position. “I went to a conference three summers ago where there were a whole bunch of associate heads of school and there were two thirds of people at the conference who were people of color,” Craig said, “and most of them have come up as Directors of DEI but they all said that being named an assistant head or associate head of school gives you the role authority to actually implement programs. A Director of DEI often has to ask and collaborate and pull people in, but actually isn’t in the hierarchy of the association of the school.” Craig and Lee have been working together since June, before the school year started, in a series of student life-focused retreats. “The retreats were designed for the teams to address how they should work together on specific issues for the coming year.” Craig added, “Ms. Wrzesinsky and Mr. Brown led their parts of the retreat with the programs that they run. I am handing off a bit of that work to Mr. Lee.” Andy Brown, Dean of Students for Community Life, and Jo Wrzesinsky, Dean of Students for Accountability and Support, are both part of the Student Life Office. “My role is twofold,” said Lee. “On the one hand, I oversee the Office of Student Life and its staff, and the other part of my role is working with Ms. Craig and Mr. McDowell to create a vision of belonging, inclusion, and diversity for the school. This is a more strategic position of trying to imagine the future of Mercersburg.” In the area of DEI, Lee has ideas about how the Mosaic Mentors and DEI Director Galbreath can progress with the student unions to create a more inclusive environment for those in the unions and for the entire Mercersburg community. “In my last school, we used to do something called an Alliance Block Party; our alliances were versions of Mercersburg unions. In the fall and spring, I hosted a block party where all the alliances led a celebration. We actually had thirteen active alliances. And each of them got a set of tables and a budget, and they brought food from their culture. We had a DJ and a multicultural playlist, and the whole school was invited. It was a way for every single alliance to showcase their culture, but it was for the whole community,” said Lee. Galbreath noted Lee’s thoughtfulness. “I’m really looking forward to how we work to support and develop a really awesome holistic framework to help build community and belonging,” Galbreath said. Craig has a vision for Lee’s position as one of authority that can actually implement policies. “I think the biggest change that I hope for is that somebody with his lens and perspective and his training will have the role authority to ask the questions that need to be asked of a historically white and maybe even male institution,” she said. “His lens will ask questions of our policies. Is that really how we want to present? Is that really what we want to believe? How inclusive is it? Does it bring dignity to each student?” Apart from experience in the DEI field, Lee has worked at four independent schools before Mercersburg Academy, teaching humanities courses such as English and History. He also expressed an interest in the field of civic engagement. “I’m really excited to work with the civic engagement initiative. That is one of the reasons why I chose to come to Mercersburg. I've done a lot of work in the DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging) space, but I think the future is to merge the IB with civic discourse and civic engagement. In a lot of ways, they overlap a lot; the same skills and mindsets for DEIB work translate very well to civic discourse. I'm actually going to meet with Ms. Schoenberger and Mrs. Brown next Monday to talk about the extent to which we can collaborate by bringing those two programs together,” Lee said. Lee wants to promote a new model of engagement where the students confront questions like “what is equity and injustice,” “why does it exist in our world,” and “how can we as a society address them?” “In certain circles, there’s already a prescribed definition of engagement, and it's not that I think that definition should be dismissed, but I do think that it's better to give students agency: much less descriptive, much more connective inquiry,” Lee said. Previous Previous Next Next

Michael Zhang '26 < Back Unrelenting on the field Michael Zhang '26 Nov 3, 2023 Last Saturday, the Blue Storm field hockey team played against The Hill School. Hill has been historically a very tough opponent. The team lost the intense match 0-9, which dropped the record for the season 2-11. Despite the loss, the team maintained a high spirit with an optimistic attitude. Head coach Michaela Singer said, “The competition that we play is really difficult. But given the competition, I think the girls take what’s given and they play their hearts out; most importantly, they play really well.” Scarlett McArthur ’24 added, “We are working excellently together. We’ve improved a lot since the beginning of the season.” Players on the team foster a strong team dynamic among themselves and their coaches. Emma Diianni ’25 said, “We are very close with each other. We’re close with our coaches, which helps us on and off the field. We feel like one big family.” Lexi Chepren ’26 concurred, “Our team has come together with communication and is working together really well this season.” Maria Rihn ’24 added, “We acknowledge that we’re not the most skill-based team, but we’re always very supportive of each other. Compared to last season, due to the loss of many seniors the team consists of younger players. Catherine Kidd ’24 said, “We lost seven seniors from last year. Most of our players are either new to the sport or new to the team.” The seniors last year had more experience with the sport. “[Our seniors] played a faster game. We also had Division 1 athletes. This year, we have more newcomers,” added Chepren. “But it’s going very well. We’ve worked together really well, and we’ve had a couple [of] close games. It’s impressive how far we’ve come along.” Many new players were returning students who transferred from other sports. Singer said, “Diianni has stepped it up as our midfielder; she’s been a big part of the team. McArthur also started playing the sport this year for the first time as a senior and she has been a huge part of our defensive unit. And our new goalie Grace Beard [’25] has been phenomenal.” The team prepared rigorously to prepare for their match against Hill. “We watched some film of [Hill] in their games. During practice, we did a lot of defensive work,” said Rihn. The coaches also took the field in practice to elevate the level of play. “Because our girls aren’t quite at that [Hill’s] level yet, so playing against each other doesn’t prepare them,” explained Singer. The season hasn’t been without its challenges. The girls have admitted that this isn’t a season with many wins. “Trying to deal with the losses was difficult. But we try not to think about how we didn’t win with the score, but looking at what we did win personally in the match,” said Singer. Despite these challenges, the players are in high spirits. “We just want to put up some more points and continue having fun out there,” echoed McArthur. Kidd added, “We’ve been very good at keeping it [the team spirit] high. We’re having small victories within every game.” With one more game left in the season, the players remain full of excitement and energy. Diianni said, “We want to go out with a bang. We really want to let it all loose, and have our last game be the game that defines us, to show how much we’ve improved this season.” Previous Next

Chloe Allis ‘25 < Back Killing killer hills Chloe Allis ‘25 Sep 22, 2023 Last weekend, the Mercersburg girls and boys cross-country teams competed in the 27th Annual Ben Bloser Bulldog XC Invitational, a highly renowned, competitive annual race hosted by Big Spring High School in Newville, PA. This meet usually features over one hundred teams divided into 14 divisions. The terrain of the Ben Bloser XC course is known for its many hills. “It was really hilly but I think since we’re from Mercersburg we’re accustomed to that,” said An Yan ’26. The course is especially infamous for “Kill Hill,” a rather sizable hill right before the finish line. “It’s steep enough to where I probably could have climbed up it on all fours,” joked Leah Willis ’24. The boys ran well, finishing number 7 of the 24 teams in their division. Winston Watkins ’25, who finished 14th out of 172 runners, said, “I thought it was a little bit hectic.” Kaori Graham-Myrie ’24 broke out this year. New to the sport of running, he’s been hitting a lot of PRs (personal records) and has made a name for himself on the varsity team. “He’s new this year and he ran a huge PR. It’s great for our team to have Kaori step up like that,” said Rich Heffron, head boys cross country coach. “I thought it was really fun, there were a lot of people, definitely a great experience,” said Yan ’26 about the invitational experience. This year, the girls team also had a great showing, finishing 9th in their division of 22 teams. “I’m really really proud of how the entire team performed, both JV and varsity,” said veteran harrier Anne Sehon ’25. All the girls who finished the race hit new personal records, whether it be in the season, on that specific course, or even in their lives. Sehon, the top runner on the girls team this weekend, who placed 14th in her division of 160 girls, said, “I tied my lifetime PR on a course that is pretty hard.” Erika Tsowah ’24 as well as Willis improved by three minutes over their former hosts. Gigi Devlin had a two-minute improvement from her lifetime PR. “Gigi Devlin is now solidly on my varsity team. She trained really hard this summer so as a result, she’s running really well,” said Betsy Cunningham, head girls cross country coach. Training for these great results was no easy feat. Both Cunningham and Heffron have teams heavily composed of returning, upperclass runners. Because of this, both coaches have been pushing their athletes very hard in practice. “I’ve been pushing them a little bit more because I have older athletes who can now handle it. A lot of them worked over the summer so now I can train them really hard,” said Cunningham. Jake Cruikshank ’24 said, “Over my four years, the training has become exponentially harder.” Watkins added, “We’re more experienced now than we were the last couple of years. Heffron knows what we can do and he knows when to push us.” Both teams have lofty goals for the season but they look to be in very good shape for all of the competition ahead. “We’ve been building up and doing some hand-holding for the past few years. Now, we’re ready to hit the ground running. We’re really on track this year, hitting our milestones,” said Heffron. Looking ahead to the rest of the season, a lot of hard workouts and good competition is to come. “I’m really looking forward to MAPLs and just for the rest of the season and seeing what people can accomplish,” said Heffron. Cunningham concluded, “My goal is to make them into good athletes, but more importantly good humans and community members.” Previous Next

Cole Pirano ‘26 < Back Malo makes a difference Cole Pirano ‘26 Feb 2, 2024 The senior class has been hard at work in their Springboard senior capstone classes, preparing for the Capstone Expo in May. Kevin Malo '24 is using his Open Topic project to make a difference with the formerly incarcerated. Inspired by his East Jersey upbringing, he chose to pursue a project involving drug-related convictions. In his home country of Ecuador, crime and drug addiction are very present and that fact has fueled his interest in the US prison system. Malo began to explore the broader system of drug-related convictions, until a few weeks ago when he encountered Gatekeepers , an organization focused on the re-entry of the incarcerated to mainstream life. Based in Hagerstown, the home to the Maryland Correctional Institute, Gatekeepers helps ex-convicts by finding them work, paying their rent, and counseling them for as long as they desire. These measures helped the formerly incarcerated persuaded Malo to focus his project on the re-entry system for ex-convicts. Malo's beliefs on allowing ex-convicts to re-enter society are evident in his words: "It is crucial that we…give those who have made past mistakes and learned from them a second chance." With his community in mind, he attended two Gatekeepers "Resource Club" meetings with Kaori Graham-Myrie '24 and Department Head of Interdisciplinary Programs JD Bennett. Malo has been working with the leadership of Bill Gaertner, a founder and executive director of Gatekeepers, who even called Malo up to speak about his project and how he hopes it can help everyone at the meeting. Graham-Myrie marveled at the experience of seeing the Gatekeepers in action, and he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be welcomed into the sessions. Spending time at Gatekeepers has been nothing short of impactful; Malo stated, "I have heard incredible stories from former inmates who are turning their lives around. Every session is nothing short of inspirational." Malo observed that most people don't know about re-entry programs like Gatekeepers, even though the prison is only a short car ride away. For this reason, he wants to raise awareness about re-entry programs because people should know about the organizations helping people in their communities. His message that "we must tell those uncomfortable stories" is embodied in his work. Currently, Malo is building a website to raise awareness of re-entry programs and their fantastic work. His work will also raise money for three different organizations that help inmates reintegrate into society. Malo has no intention of letting his project end after his graduation and hopes that a younger student will continue his work after he graduates. Bennett, Director of the Springboard program, agrees: "I am hopeful that Kevin can inspire Mercersburg to invest time and resources in Gatekeepers in the same way we've lifted My Neighbor's Bounty. " Although Malo has found purpose in this work, his project is much larger than he is. It has unlimited potential to help some of the most vulnerable members of our society return to their communities and make valuable personal contributions. Previous Previous Next Next

Rhiannon Myhre ‘25 < Back A timeless shopping experience Rhiannon Myhre ‘25 Jan 26, 2024 Most students are familiar with the big names in town spots: McDonald's, Subway, and Rutters. However, Mercersburg is also home to many fantastic, community-fostering local businesses. Some have been around for generations, and others are just getting their start. These businesses are essential to the community, aid the local economy, and promote events like Town Fest and Springfest, and all play a vital role in the friendly and welcoming culture of the town. However, this is only possible with the efforts of people like Renee Kelly, Corbin Kelly's ‘24 mom. Kelly recently opened an antique shop in the heart of town featuring a unique, diverse catalog of pre-Civil War items. The store is called Hour and Glass, located at 19 North Main Street. Kelly stated, "Following our passions led us to open our business. Combined with our dreams, probably the most significant reason is we love Mercersburg and we wanted to make a contribution in hopes of boosting the downtown. I'm kind of a daydreamer and dreamt of eventually becoming a hip little spot to find vintage swag." Kelly doesn't run her business by herself; with the help and support of her husband, Will LaFond, it has been a team effort. "My husband would tell you he enjoys finding, fixing, and sharing interesting items. His background is rooted in early American history, antiques, and architecture. He absolutely loves teaching people something new any time you meet him." If you are interested in a shop marked by an eclectic aesthetic and charm, featuring collectibles from antique clocks to custom stained glass, this is your go-to store. Kelly has many hopes for the store and the items she hopes to sell shortly. "There's lots of people who are wanting to make downtown even more fun and inviting. It would be great to hear what's sought after. Like, would somebody please sell boba tea!?!" Next time you go out for a McDonald's or Rutters run, stop by Hour and Glass on your way and check out the amazing work that Kelly and her family are doing. Previous Previous Next Next

Deetya Tandon ’29 < Back Squash shines at home Deetya Tandon ’29 Jan 23, 2026 The boys squash team hosted Woodberry Forest School and Wakefield School last Friday, competing in a full slate of matches and winning all of them. Varsity earned 7–0 victories over both opponents, but the JV squad proved to be the highlight of the day by earning a 6–1 win over Woodberry Forest’s varsity team. Coach Mike Sweeney said, “It showed how everyone has come far this season, progressing since the fall, with every player's development getting better. It was a strong way to open the new year, despite the challenges, but the team is prepared to take on even tougher challenges this season.” “We played well as a team and had a really good victory,” Finn Mauro ’27 said. “I’m proud of how we were able to pull through big matches at the end. I’m especially proud that JV beat Woodberry Forest’s varsity team 6–1,” he said. “That was a big moment, and it makes me feel confident heading into the MASO [Mid-Atlantic Squash Association] championships.” Alexis Aquino ’29 added, “The team's performance was solid, and the matches proved we were a strong and united team. I liked my second game, played against a good guy, controlled the match, and enjoyed every single point.” Sid Shah ’26 added, “I thought my performance was good, I won three games, and overall the team did well. I was most proud of my last game because it was against my toughest opponent,” he said. “The competition felt easier overall, but it was important that we won and played our best.” Competing at home was very meaningful as friends, teachers, and classmates supported the team. “This was one of the few games held at home, so I really enjoy having my friends and teachers get to be part of the experience; it’s special when people come out to watch,” Aquino said. Shah also noted the impact of the crowd. “The support during Finn’s and William’s matches showed how far our team culture has come,” he said. “It was great to see people show up and support us, and that energy really helped our performance.” Shah continued, “Our goal was to win, especially so that the JV and the developmental team could get good practice and experience, and we were happy we were able to do that. Overall, we had a really good match and everyone played really well.” Maruo echoed that confidence. “The team is pushing together and lifting each other up,” he said. “We want to stay positive and optimistic as we work toward Nationals. We have strong potential.” Aquino also highlighted the team’s mentality. “It is important to always give your one hundred percent, even if you’re not feeling your best,” he said. “That mindset is what makes us competitive and keeps us focused on our goals.” The weekend’s results reflected the team’s growing confidence and chemistry. With momentum building, the boys look ahead to the rest of the season focused and prepared for tougher competition. Previous Next

Revant Jear < Back MAPL Squash Champs Revant Jear Feb 10, 2026 Last weekend, the Blue Storm boys and girls varsity squash teams competed in the Mid-Atlantic Prep League squash championships at home in the Davenport Squash Center, closing out conference play in front of a supportive crowd. The boys’ team entered the weekend ranked sixth in the country and delivered on expectations, while the girls’ team battled through a competitive draw and used the matches as preparation for the US High School Team Championships, more commonly referred to as Nationals. The boys secured their second MAPL title after defeating Hill 7–0 and Lawrenceville 5–2, finishing a dominant season in strong fashion. Head coach Dominic Benacquista said, “I’m incredibly proud of the boys and the program as a whole. Throughout the year, we demonstrated our depth with contributions from everyone, whether it was players at the top of the lineup or down to number sixteen on the roster. Each of them stepped up and delivered when it counted.” Benacquista continued, “With a young, hungry team, the future looks very bright,” adding his appreciation for the home crowd’s support. Captain Sid Shah ’26 said, “I thought I performed well. I won all my matches.” For him, the highlight was simple: “Winning the trophy and taking a picture with it.” Shah was also part of the previous MAPL championship team his freshman year. Teammate Alexis Aquino ’28 added, “My individual performance was really good. In my first match, I felt comfortable and got used to the court. The second match was harder, but I stayed confident. We all trained really hard for this, so I’m really proud of the team for winning the championship.” Aquino credited fitness and movement drills as key factors, saying, “Ghosting and fitness are the key to helping you play better squash.” On the girls’ side, head coach Mike Sweeney said the team approached MAPLs with both realism and ambition. “We were being realistic about our chances against Lawrenceville—they were just very strong,” Sweeney said. “We expected to see Hill in the second round, and that was a match we thought we could get. We unfortunately lost 4–3. It was very close, and there were opportunities to win there.” Jennica Nguyen ’27 added, “Competing at home felt motivating because of the familiarity of the courts and the support from the community. Facing strong, experienced opponents pushed me to work hard for every point.” Sweeney added, “We’re really pointing at Nationals right now. We’re getting back to basics, recognizing situations, and trying to make small improvements. If everybody can take a step forward, we can make some noise.” Previous Next